I've been fascinated by the renewed popularity of The Office, especially among young people. This book doesn't really shine too much of a light on that subject, but it has enough behind the scenes details to make it worth the read. The oral history format really works with the subject matter and makes it fun and informative. I'd recommend it for casual and hardcore fans.

A thorough oral history of the hit 2000s American TV series The Office. Fans will enjoy the behind-the-scenes stories and tidbits. Greene interviewed numerous people involved in the show, but I must agree with some other reviewers here that the absence of Steve Carell (Michael Scott) is definitely an issue.

This reads like a long-form interview, with the cast and crew talking about their involvement with a show they obviously loved. Very interesting reading if you also loved The Office--which I did! (And I also recommend checking out "Office Ladies", Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey's new podcast in which they are rewatching an episode a week. I have no affiliation with the show--I just think it's lots of fun.)

The Office is my favorite show. Of. All. Time. If you've not seen it, literally stop reading this, go watch all 9 seasons, and then come back. I'll accept nothing less.

Done?

Ok, so this book is pretty much the untold story from almost every one involved in The Office. Seasons are discussed, specific characters, situations, etc. We hear from Steve Carrel, Jenna Fischer, some of the producers, the creators, and really anyone you could possible imagine.

Despite knowing The Office pretty well, there were so many things I learned in this book. I'm follow The Office Ladies podcast and I'm learning a lot there as well. But this book has so much going on and so much to learn, and I freaking loved it. Thank you to Andy Greene for getting this together and having all these conversations with people on the cast. It's awesome to learn things about something you love so much.

The Office publishes 3.24.2020.

5/5 Stars

Had so much fun reading and learning about the behind the scenes of Dunder Mufflin. Will I rewatch The Office as soon as I can.... YES. My love for Jim, Dwight, Kevin, Pam etc will last forever and it was so great to hear from the actors that played them! Also great to learn more about some of my favorite episodes. This book was well organized and a great read for a superfan such as myself!

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them."

I have been a fan of The Office (US) for years. As soon as I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. It turned out to be a really interesting read, and I really loved getting to see the behind the scenes. I really appreciate that Andy Greene took the time and effort he did to round out the stories and give different perspectives. I laughed out loud reading the chapters surrounding Dinner Party and Gay Witch Hunt (arguably my favorite episodes of the entire series). I found myself laughing hysterically, but also feeling emotional and sentimental reading about the cast of characters that I love so much and the care that went into their creation. I can't wait to buy a few copies as gifts for my friends who love The Office once this is released officially in March.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Considering I still have a Pam bobble head on my desk at work all these years later, I was thrilled to get my hands on an advanced copy of this book. My only small gripe would be that it could have been a little shorter but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am now considering rewatching ‘The Office’ all over again from start to finish. Any big fan of ‘The Office’ will be a big fan of this book!

I really enjoy reading oral histories--especially those about popular culture. As a fan of The Office, I couldn't resist this one.

The book begins by looking at the origin of the show--the critically acclaimed UK sitcom. It was really fascinating to learn that the American version followed the UK show precisely but soon recognized that the darker tone of the original would not succeed with an American audience. Interviews with cast, writers and crew describe the evolution of the show from an low rated, critically panned show to the most popular sitcom on Netflix.

Reading the book is an uplifting experience. A cast of largely unknown actors, united with producers and writers worked tirelessly to create this now classic show. The book describes a working environment where everyone who worked on the show became a family.with few conflicts.

I would recommend this book to readers who want to learn more about the creation of television show.

this is such an amazing book. This is for ANY Office fan, whether or not you're a reader. The interviews were amazing. I loved all of the little tidbits that I didn't know about the show and enjoyed reliving the ones I did know. This book pairs well with listening to The Office Ladies podcast.

The Office by Andy Greene Thank you #netgalley and Dutton books for the free ebook #jaylammreviews

As a big fan of The Office, I couldn't wait to get a peek into how it was created. This is basically told through quotes or interviews of the cast and crew. This really goes in depth into the writing process and how the individual episodes were created. It was really interesting to see the show through the eyes of the crew and creators. 

The way the book is written, even though it is interview style, with the perspective constantly changing; it is very well organized. They go through things in chronological order so it is very easy to follow.

If you are a fan of the office, this is a must read. Treat yourself to an inside look into this amazing show. This is out March 24th 2020.

I received The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History by Andy Greene as an ARC. The author interviews the writers, actors, creators, directors, and nearly everyone involved in The Office and weaves together their answers to create a narrative. He starts with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant who were the creators of the original UK The Office television show. The book is broken up into chapters about each season, talking about specific episodes, and includes a lot of behind the scenes information that will bring a fresh perspectives to my next viewing of The Office.

While he personally interviews many people, he doesn't manage to interview Steve Carell. Similar to seasons 8 and 9 of The Office, it definitely was missing something without him. He does throw in a quote from Carell from another source at the end, but I definitely wanted more. Additionally, at 464 pages, I felt it went a tad long and included some writers drama that was unnecessary to the story. Overall, very enjoyable. I gave it 3.5 stars and would recommend to anyone who is a fan of The Office and would like to learn more. Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.


This will be published March 24th, 2020.

An essential book for people who passionately love The Office. Especially for people, like me, who endlessly rewatch the show as pop culture comfort food. It's an exhaustive—and occasionally exhausting—oral history that provides cultural context for the show’s success, introduces readers to the brilliant creatives who worked behind the scenes, and offers countless fascinating anecdotes from the principal stars, supporting cast, writers, and executives. All things told, this book made me fall even more in love with The Office. My only nitpick is that things occasionally get repetitive and longwinded. At 464 pages, it feels like there could have been some snipping for length and efficiency. Still, I’d prefer the overabundance to most alternatives. This isn’t necessarily a book I’d recommend to casual fans. Not everyone cares about how the sausage got made. But for its target readership, this book is an absolute knockout.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

At first I was a little put off by the way the book is set up, but after a while it's almost like one giant interview. You get to hear about the series and funny anecdotes about the actors and crew.

As a fan of the show I was glad to see this coming out. Most of the cast is included and very open. With a show so big and full of so many great moments don't get mentioned. While a great job was done getting the biggest stars, it's sad that characters like Kevin don't get much feature because the actor wasn't included.

This is a great read for fans of The Office or comedy TV. The book begins with the development of the original British show, follows the creation and rise of the American version, and ends by examining The Office’s legacy in culture, comedy, and business.

Greene uses an interesting format for his book - it’s written almost entirely with direct quotes from the cast, crew, and executives. He’s culled through interviews from across the years and compiled the quotes to tell the show’s story in a linear format. It works well - Greene lets the people who know and love the show best describe it’s trajectory in their own words.

This book is a must-read for any fan of the "The Office." Using first-hand accounts from the people in front of and behind the show's cameras, the book provides a peak behind the curtain of one of television's most loved, heartfelt, and hilariously funny shows. Be forewarned: you'll have a hard time getting through it, because you'll feel the need to constantly put the book down to rewatch your favorite episodes, but that's not exactly a bad thing. This book is sure it earn its place among the bobbleheads and "World's Best Boss" mugs cherished by generations of Office superfans.

I love The Office. I always have it on in the background, I fall asleep to it, I look at memes of it, I listen to the Office Ladies podcast. It's easily one of my favorite shows. This book was so fun to read. The interviews flowed so well. This was such a joy to read. I found myself laughing out loud at points and yelling across the house to my husband to share something I learned. This is absolutely a must read for anyone who loves the Office.

What 20-something college grad doesn't love The Office? I fell in love with The Office my freshman year of college and have been hooked ever since (it may or may not be playing in the background as I write this post). I think The Office does brilliant work in being relatable enough to be comforting, but also quirky enough to be funny and to allow audiences to catch something new every time you watch.

"The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s" by Andy Greene is an oral history of The Office from first concepts to the series finale and everything in-between. Greene had the ability to compile a large series of interviews from almost every person who had some part in The Office.

In a time where almost every detail you could want to know about The Office is on the internet, this book is a success because it collects all the information into one place. For fans, this book launches at a great time because we now also have "The Office Ladies" podcast. While we are hearing what Jenna and Angela remember, we also have the perspective of the directors, producers, and crew. I love the full picture this creates. Honestly, I'm surprised there hasn't been a more cohesive book like this before!

I loved this book. The writing was mostly interviews, but the chronological order was a great fit for covering a tv series. Office addict, you need to read this book!

I am a huge fan of The Office. It is one of my top 3 favorite shows of all time. I watched when it originally aired, I bought the seasons on DVD, and I watch it on Netflix almost daily. This is the ultimate book for fans of The Office. If you've ever wanted to know all the behind the scenes info on this hilarious, witty, and touching show - this is the book for you. I have been recommending this book to all of my friends who also love this show and I can't wait to purchase it as gifts when it is released.

[This review will go live on Civilian Reader on March 16th.]

I was a latecomer to The Office. When the original UK version first aired, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Ricky Gervais. This meant I didn’t rush to watch the American version. A few years ago, though, we gave it a try and quickly fell in love with the employees of Dunder Mifflin, Scranton, PA. I’ve now watched the whole series multiple times, and each time it keeps me entertained, laughing out loud. When I learned about this book, I quickly got in touch with the publisher and they were kind enough to send me a DRC. I started reading it almost immediately, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

This is the latest in a slew of new books about beloved, completed TV series. (I have three about Friends, and one about Frasier still to read.) As someone who loves reading about Hollywood, and behind-the-scenes of movies and TV series, I feel quite spoiled at the moment. Of the ones I’ve read, Andy Greene’s The Office is easily one of the best.

How does one review an oral history? An oral history of one of your favourite shows? The book is packed with behind-the-scenes revelations from the cast and (more so) the crew. While reading it, I would frequently interrupt my partner’s day to tell her about this or that nugget that I thought was fascinating, funny and/or endearing. (It’s all part of the service of being with me…)

Split into sections covering each season, key episodes, and production departments (writing, wardrobe, set design, etc.), it is an expansive and exhaustive account of the making of The Office. Greene draws on existing coverage of the show and cast, as well as new interviews. We learn about favourite episodes and moments, from the perspective of directors, writers, and cast members. We learn about how close of the cast became, and how much they all loved their time on the show — unlike in some other instances, you get the sense that they really did love their time on the show (thanks to social media, it’s not difficult to see how much time they still spend together). Guest stars offer their thoughts about their time on the show and with these great characters and people. It was also interesting for me to learn the context surrounding the show’s production and continued existence — it often didn’t have the greatest support from the studio’s higher-ups, but the overwhelming love from the fans, certain key management people, and those making the show kept it alive and going.

There are hundreds of nuggets I could have chosen to share, but really the best thing is to read it for yourself. It is a must-read for fans of the show, and Greene has done a wonderful job of creating an endearing and entertaining history of the show.

I highly recommend this book. It is rather long, however, so maybe I’d give it only a cautious recommendation for people who don’t love the TV series. Fans of the show will find plenty that they will love in the book.

I loved The Office, and this book is a wonderful insight into how it was made. I really enjoyed reading about the series production. The interviews were top notch. I highly recommend this book!